Governor Viktor Claims Stunting in NTT Drops to 18 Percent as of September 2022

Health workers measure toddlers' weight for checking stunting. (Between-Harviyan P P P)

NTT - East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Governor, Viktor Bungtilu Laiskodat, claims the stunting rate in the area he leads has fallen to 18 percent by the end of September 2022. In 2018, the number of stunted children in NTT was 42 percent.

"Through the hard work of all parties in dealing with stunting, NTT was able to overcome stunting. At the end of September 2022, the stunting rate in NTT fell significantly and left about 18 percent", said Viktor in a written statement, quoted from Antara on Monday, October 10.

Viktor said this in a working meeting with sub-district heads and village heads throughout Central Sumba Regency on the island of Sumba.

"I see that Central Sumba Regency is starting to grow well. Although it is listed as one of the poorest districts in NTT, it is slowly starting to grow", said Viktor.

He said, with the achievement of development data such as the reduction in stunting in Central Sumba Regency, the NTT Government appreciates the hard work carried out by the local district government which targets stunting to decrease to five percent by December 2022.

"We are happy because stunting in NTT has now fallen to 18 percent. We want that continue to reduce stunting cases to reach 14 percent in 2024", he said.

He said efforts to overcome stunting must be carried out together. Because children who are stunted today are the NTT generation for the next 20 years.

He hopes that the Central Sumba Regency Government will aggressively empower the community with development programs, especially in dealing with stunting and extreme poverty.

"We must have a strong determination that to develop the region and the welfare of the community with the target there are clear and tangible results and there are great benefits. We remind you not to work carelessly. Leaders must have a clear vision and real work in dealing with various problems in the community", he said.